The 2009 Cadillac DTS has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Recall 14V355000 electrical system part unavailable.” Cadillac uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm watches engine revolutions, temperature, and load, then lights the change-oil message — typically around 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, with dexos-approved oil. Turbo fours in ATS, CT4, XT4, and XT5 are harder on oil than the indicator suggests in short-trip driving. Northstar-era V8s (DeVille, Seville, Eldorado) live and die by their cooling system — coolant condition checks are not optional on those cars. Escalade shares its 6.2L V8 and 10-speed with GM's trucks and follows the same fluid schedule.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Cadillac DTS.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2015-01
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE”
SERVICE BRAKES
4 NHTSA complaints · 2014-12 → 2019-10
“I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2016 (COMPLAINT NO. 10823262) RELATED CORROSION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES. THIS COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR BUT RELATED TO CORROSION OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES IN WHICH I AGAIN HAD A SIMILAR LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE”
“THE BRAKE LINES IN MY 2009 CADILLAC DTS ARE COMPLETLY CORRODED,TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE PLAIN STEEL BRAKE LINES IN A CADILLAC, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN STAINLESS STEEL AT A MINIMUM”
“I PURCHASED MY 2009 DTS CADILLAC FOLEY IN NOV. OF 2008. PRESENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I SERVICED MY BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING”
VISIBILITY, SEATS
4 NHTSA complaints · 2009-09 → 2010-10
“FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS CAUSE A VERY LARGE OBSTRUCTION IN TRYING TO SEE A VEHICLE YOU ARE PASSING, SO AS TO KNOW WHEN TO GET BACK IN TO THE TRAVEL LANE. ALSO THE HEAD RESTRAINTS POSE A LARGE BLIND SPOT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. *TR”
“WE HAVE A 2010 CADILLAC DTS. I AM 5 FEET 5 INCHES TALL AND THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT I COULD NOT RIDE COMFORTABLY IN THE CAR”
“2009 CADILLAC DTS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF HEAD RESTRAINTS. *NJ THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE UNABLE TO RELAX THEIR SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK REST OF THE SEAT, BECAUSE THE HEAD REST WAS POSITIONED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHICH CAUSED THEIR HEADS TO BECOME CRUNCHED”
STRUCTURE
3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-05 → 2015-08
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ENTERED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOORS”
“VEHICLE LOCKS ITSELF. "CHECKED" THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, NOTHING FOUND. THEN BACK PASSENGER SIDE LOCK FAULTY & REPLACED”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO A FAULTY DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH AND HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9 NHTSA complaints · 2012-06 → 2024-09
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED”
“VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN ATVTRAIN STATION. HAD TO LEAVE OVERNIGHT AND HAD IT TROUBLESHOT IN AM. A FAULTY FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS THE SUPPOSED CAUSE”
“VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE. DEALER FOUND REAR FUSE ASSEMBLY TO BE IN A "MELTED CONDITION"; FUEL PUMP FUSE/RELAY WAS CHARRED. ENTIRE FUSE ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. DEALER COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR PROBLEM”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 full synthetic on modern engines; Blackwing and supercharged V-Series run hotter and should not stretch the indicator. Northstar V8s: watch for consumption and leaks at the rear main and oil-pan perimeter.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two. Staggered-fitment V-Series cars can't rotate front-to-rear; budget rear tires accordingly.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Brembo-equipped V-Series wear faster than the base cars; magnetic-ride models should also get a look at shock condition while it's on the lift.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
GM lists roughly 45,000 miles under severe service (which includes most city commuting) for the 6/8/10-speed automatics. Older 4T80-E units behind Northstars respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile cars.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Turbo fours (ATS 2.0T, CT4, XT4): roughly every 60,000 miles. Naturally-aspirated V6s and V8s carry iridium plugs rated to 97,500–100,000 miles — check the manual for your engine.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at oil changes in dusty regions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
GM recommends fluid replacement about every 45,000 miles or 3 years. Magnetic-ride and V-Series cars driven hard should err toward the 2-year mark.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing. Supercharged V-Series engines have a second, dedicated blower belt — inspect both.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — sooner if the climate fan has lost its punch.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On Northstar V8s this is the schedule that decides the engine's fate — low or contaminated coolant is how head-gasket trouble starts. Check level and condition at every oil change on those cars.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped models and anything with Super Cruise use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, and expect shorter life from the electrical load these cars carry parked.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
35 crashes 1990–2024
How the 35 occupant deaths break down
25
driver deaths
10
passenger deaths
35
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2009 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
1
complaints mentioning a crash
1
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Cadillac DTS reflects Cadillac's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.